Category: Ataxia
Objective: To ascertain the role of resting-state functional MRI (rsfMRI)-based modularity in differentiating spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) and spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2).
Background: Although SCA1 and SCA2 tend to possess certain distinct clinical features, there may be no definite distinctions on imaging, especially in the early stages of disease. Advanced neuroimaging techniques have shown promise in differentiating between these two disorders. In this context, graph theoretical analysis of rsfMRI may prove to be useful. Specifically, modularity of a network which is a measure of the strength of division of the network into groups, i.e., modules, clusters, or communities may show differences between SCA1 and SCA2.
Method: rsfMRI was acquired for 11 subjects with SCA1, 17 subjects with SCA2, and 29 healthy controls. Initial preprocessing of rsfMRI data was carried out using SPM12 following which graph theory analysis was carried out using the brain connectivity toolbox. Modularity was measured with sparsity range between 0-45%, and FDR correction was set at p<0.01. Disease severity was measured using International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS).
Results: No significant difference was observed between the age at onset, age at evaluation, duration of illness, and disease severity. SCA1 was found to have significantly lower modularity in comparison to SCA2, and healthy controls.
Conclusion: These results suggest that patients with SCA1 in comparison to SCA2 probably have a diminished ability to form modular local brain networks. Evaluation of subnetwork specific changes in modularity may provide better insights into understanding the basis for variations in clinical features of SCA1 and SCA2.
References: 1. Brain Connectivity Toolbox [https://sites.google.com/site/bctnet/]
2. Rubinov, M., and Sporns, O. (2010). Complex network measures of brain connectivity: uses and interpretations. Neuroimage 52, 1059–1069. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2009.10.003
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
S. Bhardwaj, AS. Sunny, SK. Khokhar, S. Prasad, NL. Kamble, S. Hegde, K. Kumar, J. Saini, R. Yadav, PK. Pal, RD. Bharath. Role of resting-state fMRI-based brain network modularity in differentiating SCA1 and SCA2 [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2022; 37 (suppl 2). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/role-of-resting-state-fmri-based-brain-network-modularity-in-differentiating-sca1-and-sca2/. Accessed June 15, 2025.« Back to 2022 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/role-of-resting-state-fmri-based-brain-network-modularity-in-differentiating-sca1-and-sca2/